Dauntless has made its debut on Steam, but the reception has been anything but welcoming, with the game currently facing an “Overwhelmingly negative” rating. Initially available since August 2017, this co-op hunting game has recently transitioned to Steam, where it has quickly amassed nearly 1,000 negative reviews. The core of the criticism centers on a significant overhaul that many players feel has fundamentally altered the game for the worse.
Community Backlash
The primary grievances stem from the reset of player progress, a move that is not entirely new for Dauntless. This reset coincided with the introduction of a new monetization model that many players find excessive. One user, Dragontooth562, expressed frustration over the new pricing structure, stating, “Weapons are locked behind a pay wall. (Apart from the starting 7). Removed a lot of weapons (Yes the ones you love and grinded for) […] This game was a prime example of a game that never needed to be touched and was ruined, update by update.”
Adding to the controversy is the recent acquisition of Phoenix Labs, the game’s developer, by Forte, a blockchain company. This change in ownership has raised eyebrows, particularly as it followed closely after players discovered the acquisition. Concerns about the influence of blockchain and NFT interests on the game have been voiced, with one user, Saturniidae, noting, “But it was the first update that came out after a new company bought Phoenix, who was a blockchain/NFT group.”
In an attempt to address the growing discontent, Phoenix Labs issued a letter to the community. The developer justified the changes by stating that the reset was necessary for all players to familiarize themselves with the new systems. They explained, “We wanted to ensure that even veteran players would have and take the time to dig into the new and complex systems before jumping straight into the hunt potentially with non-ideal gear set-ups.”
This explanation, however, did not resonate well with the community. Many players felt that the response lacked substance, with one user, Umbra, criticizing the letter for merely outlining how the game works without offering any real solutions to the issues raised. “That’s it. Not ‘we’re going to change this,’ or ‘we’re going to fix this,’ just ‘this is how a loot box works; you don’t HAVE to buy it,'” they remarked.
Future Prospects
Despite the turmoil, Dauntless is set to receive a significant update on December 19, with hopes that it will address some of the community’s concerns. However, the challenges ahead appear daunting. While the game has always been marketed as a free-to-play alternative to Monster Hunter, the recent monetization strategies have drawn considerable ire from players. Wes Fenlon from PC Gamer previously noted the intrusive nature of in-game advertisements, which detracted from the overall experience.
While Dauntless has cultivated a dedicated player base over the years, the recent Steam launch intended to broaden its appeal has instead drawn attention for all the wrong reasons. Currently, the game boasts just over 400 active players, a stark contrast to the vibrant community it once enjoyed. Phoenix Labs may believe in the merit of their changes, but convincing the player base will require more than just patchwork solutions.
